GA/AP/682, 3 June 1977
The Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, Leslie O. Harriman (Nigeria), appealed today to Governments and organizations to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Struggling People of South Africa, on 16 June.
He issued the following statement:
"On behalf of the Special Committee against Apartheid, I appeal to all Governments and organizations to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Struggling People of South Africa on 16 June by rededicating themselves to moral, political and material support to the liberation movements of the South African people until apartheid is eradicated.
"The General Assembly, in resolution 31/6 of 9 November 1976, proclaimed the International Day to coincide with the anniversary of the Soweto massacre in which the apartheid regime brutally murdered African school children during a peaceful demonstration against discrimination in education. This massacre is an inhuman and desperate act by a criminal regime which failed to suppress the resistance of the oppressed people against apartheid despite massive repression over many years. It was a warning to the international community that urgent and decisive action to suppress and punish the crime of apartheid is imperative.
"The Soweto massacre triggered a national uprising in which the black people of the country defied truncheons and bullets, and savage torture, to demonstrate their indomitable will to make all necessary sacrifices to eradicate apartheid and build a non-racial society.
"As the United Nations General Assembly recognized in 1975, the liberation movements and other opponents of apartheid in South Africa have made a great contribution to the purposes of the United Nations. The Assembly proclaimed that the United Nations and the international community have a special responsibility towards the oppressed people of South Africa and their liberation movements and towards those imprisoned, restricted or exiled for their struggle against apartheid.
"I would appeal to Governments and organizations to observe the International Day:
"(a) by declaring their full solidarity with the struggling people of South Africa;
"(b) by taking concrete actions to implement the United Nations Programme of Action against Apartheid, and all relevant resolutions against apartheid; and
"(c) by pledging assistance to the oppressed people of South Africa and their liberation movements.
"The Special Committee is convinced that the Soweto massacre has heralded a new and decisive stage in the long and hard struggle of the South African people against apartheid and racism. Given all necessary support by the international community, they can attain victory in the near future and destroy the source of inhumanity and conflict in the southern part of Africa.
"The Special Committee pledges to do all in its power to discharge its mandate to promote such international support in the cause of freedom and peace."